Valdivia black dragon fish (Melanostomias valdiviae) fish species and information / pictures of Valdivia black dragon fish - Melanostomias valdiviae

Valdivia black dragon fish (Melanostomias valdiviae) fish species information

Scientific Name
Melanostomias valdiviae

Common Name
Valdivia black dragon fish

Biology
Dorsal spines (total): 0; Dorsal soft rays (total): 12-16; Anal spines: 0; Anal soft rays: 17 - 19. Body elongate and moderately slender. Short, blunt and non-protrusible snout. Short chin barbel with short terminal expanded section. Black in color. Barbel is black, tip of barbel unpigmented (Ref. 37039).

Classification

Classified By

Brauer, 1902

Class

Ray-finned fishes (Actinopterygii)

Order

Lightfishes and Dragonfishes (Stomiiformes)

Family

Barbeled dragonfishes (Stomiidae)

Distribution

Region

Eastern Atlantic

Distribution

Eastern Atlantic: between 41?N and 28?N, one record at about 30?N, 18?W, and west of South Africa. Western Atlantic: between 41?N and 28?N, Gulf of Mexico, and south to 8?N; then between 10?S and 18?S. Northwest Atlantic: Canada (Ref. 5951). Also Indian and Pacific oceans.

Range

41°N - 49°S, 98°W - 154°W

Environment

Climate

Deep-water

Water Temperature From

Unknown °C

Water Temperature To

Unknown °C

Depth From - meters

40 m

Depth To - meters

1600 m

Zone

bathyalpelagic

Environment

Marine; bathypelagic; depth range 40 - 1600 m (Ref. 2732)

Trophic Level

4.2 s.e. 0.73 Based on food items.

Occurs in Marine / Salt water

True

Occurs in Brackish water

False

Occurs in Fresh Water

False

Occurs on Reefs

False

Is kept in Aquariums

False

Physical Size and Genetics

Maximum Length

24.1 cm

Common Length

Unknown cm

Phylogenetic Diversity Index

PD50 = 0.5000 many relatives (e.g. carps) 0.5 - 2.0 few relatives (e.g. lungfishes)

Human Uses and Population

Human Uses

Unknown

Vulnerability

Low to moderate vulnerability (28 of 100)

Resilience

High, minimum population doubling time less than 15 months (Preliminary K or Fecundity.)

Threat To Humans

  Harmless

IUCN Red List Status

  Not Evaluated